GOP Sen. Portman: Trump wrong to ask Ukraine, China for help

Ohio News

Oct 8, 2019

FILE - In this June 23, 2016 file photo, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio listens during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. An election-year bill that would protect health-care and pension benefits for more than 100,000 retired coal miners is dividing coal-state Republicans. Thousands of miners are expected to gather at the Capitol to push for the measure, which they describe as life-saving and fulfilling a promise the government made in 1946. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Sen. Rob Portman became the fourth Republican senator to break ranks by criticizing President Donald Trump for seeking help from foreign governments to investigate a political rival.
After attending an event in Columbus on Monday, Portman said that Trump asking Ukraine and China to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter was “not appropriate.”
He added, however, that he does not “view it as an impeachable offense” and believes the House “rushed to impeachment assuming certain things.”
The Columbus Dispatch reports three other Republican senators, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nevada and Susan Collins of Maine have criticized the president’s comments about China, which further fueled an impeachment inquiry in the U.S. House.
Trump praised Portman five days ago, saying “nobody was more honorable.”